Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease that can be life-threatening for young children. New research backs a recommendation that all pregnant women receive a pertussis booster with each pregnancy, as it can help their infants fight off the infection.

Caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough remains a significant health problem around the world. In the US, case counts are rising. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was a 15% increase in reports of whooping cough from 2013 to 2014. While the increase mainly… more